New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could be in trouble with Major League Baseball if it is found that he participated in underground poker games at a Beverly Hills mansion.

Rodriguez could face suspension if MLB gets confirmation he played in the games in which a fight allegedly broke out after one of the players refused to pay up a half million dollar debt, ESPN is reporting.

"We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation," MLB said in a statement. "As part of the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez."

This could be a real problem for Rodriguez because among the allegations being claimed by an unnamed source is that the games in which the aging baseball star participated also had cocaine being openly used by others. Rodriguez apparently has been warned in the past by the Yankees about his attraction to underground poker games, which are illegal.

"I don't really have any comment on that," New York manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday before the Yankees played the Chicago White Sox. "Let baseball handle those things.”

That may not be all baseball has to handle when it comes to Rodriguez. There is the matter of a federal investigation into Toronto doctor Anthony Galea, who has been implicated in steroid smuggling. Rodriguez could be listed as one of his patients, which could be a major problem for the star.

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)